Making Cybersecurity Accessible for SMEs - Interview with Wissam Mallouli
26, November, 2024
As the Chief Technology Officer of MONTIMAGE, a Paris-based cybersecurity firm, Wissam Mallouli brings his expertise to the NERO project, where he leads a crucial initiative to make cybersecurity solutions more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Understanding the SME Landscape
Mallouli emphasises the critical need for tailored cybersecurity solutions for European SMEs:
"In Europe, 98% of companies are SMEs or MSEs. This kind of company is the most vulnerable company in Europe because the cybersecurity solutions that we have in the market are, in general, very expensive."
He highlights that most existing solutions are designed for larger organisations with established cybersecurity infrastructure and expertise, creating a significant gap in the market.
Addressing Unique Challenges
The NERO project recognises that many SME owners and employees lack technical backgrounds. Mallouli explains:
"We can speak about lawyers, doctors, even restaurants. They have smartphones; they use PCs from time to time. But finally, they are not aware of all the risks related to the protection of data that they are managing."
This lack of awareness becomes particularly concerning when dealing with:
- Sensitive business data
- Personal information subject to GDPR
- Digital infrastructure security
Building the NERO Marketplace
As the leader of Work Package 3, Mallouli is coordinating the development of a centralised marketplace specifically designed for SMEs. The platform's key features include:
- User-friendly interface: "We want to have a centralised place where SMEs can search for solutions and training that can fulfil their needs."
- Customised solutions: "We would like to propose solutions that are customised to the specific needs of the SME and the specific requirements of the sector."
- Profiling system: "Making a profile of the user is very important to understand what the specific needs are and provide a specific, clear path."
Beyond Tools: A Comprehensive Approach
Mallouli stresses that NERO's approach goes beyond simply providing tools:
"It's also providing them training, coaching them on how to deploy these tools because these people are in general afraid of technology. They need to have someone that will tell them, 'Yes, you did it in the right way."
Cost-Effective Security Solutions
A fundamental aspect of the NERO marketplace is its focus on affordability:
"We need to propose solutions that are efficient and that are very easy to implement, understand, and very easy to deploy and to exploit."
The project aims to make advanced cybersecurity tools accessible to organisations with limited budgets while maintaining high standards of protection.
Looking Ahead
Through the NERO marketplace, TRUST-IT and its partners are working to create an adaptive, user-centric platform that evolves with user feedback and changing security needs. The goal is to empower European SMEs to protect their digital assets effectively, regardless of their technical expertise or resources.
Watch the Full Video Interview
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